Singers making sacrifices for 'Idol'

Today, musical hopefuls have gotten out of bed before the sunrise, foregoing a lazy start to Saturday morning to join a line of thousands at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis for, perhaps, an audition and a chance, however slim, to become a star on the pop culture TV hit "American Idol."

Although the auditions do not start until Sunday, contestants are allowed to get in line starting at 6 a.m. today to secure a spot.

One of those hopefuls who will be heading to St. Louis is Lacey Hayes, who recently performed in the Cape Girardeau production "Sing, America, Sing!"

Hayes, who is entering her senior year at Jackson High School, has been a fan of "American Idol" from the first season the show was on television.

"This show was made for me," Hayes said.

Hayes almost attended last year's auditions in Houston, but the death of her grandfather prevented her. Each year the producers of the show hold auditions in several select cities around the country to select contestants.

When she heard auditions were coming to St. Louis, Hayes knew she would be there waiting in line.

To prepare for the big event, Hayes has bought a new outfit and been rehearsing the song she plans to sing, Mama Cass' "Words of Love."

Still, she is worried about her chances of getting an audition.

"With all that work, not to get an audition would be heartbreaking," she said. "I would be thrilled just to get to the next round."

No one who shows at the Edward Jones Dome today is guaranteed an audition, and even those who are picked by the show's producers Sunday have to face another audition before coming face to face with the famous judges -- Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell -- who ultimately decide who gets on the show.

Hayes admits that getting on the show is like winning the lottery, but said "you've got to try, you never know what's going to come of it."

Cape Girardeau's Vanessa Pearl also figures she has nothing to lose by trying.

Pearl, 20, said she has dreamed of being a singer since she was a child.

"The way I see, at least I tried and it will be an experience," she said of the auditions.

Curtis Yount from Marble Hill, however, wants the auditions to be more than an experience. The 22-year-old is determined to be on the TV show.

Yount makes his living modeling, but is now pursuing his dream of becoming a professional singer.

"I have a hunger for it," Yount said of performing. "I like to get people's attention and see people's reaction."

He started singing in talent shows as a child and has more recently performed at convention centers and sang the national anthem before a minor league baseball team in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and at the Dixie Stampede in Branson, Mo.

Yount has high hopes beyond this weekend's "American Idol" auditions.

"I'd be happy with the top twelve. The top twelve all have CDs," he said, referring to the top 12 contestants on the television show.

Yount is prepared to sing "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," which he points out, was the song that got the 2003 "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken onto the show.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

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